Chapter 7: Luo Qingqiu’s Reward—Wishing for a Child…

"You helped me today—tell me, how should I reward you…?"

"Anything at all?" Ling Tian asked cautiously.

Luo Qingqiu nodded, her smile fading as she masked her expression.

"Then… will you ma—" As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. Since anything was possible, why not go for broke? Yet before he could finish, a sharp crack cut through his words.

"Smack—"

Luo Qingqiu, holding Ling Tian with one hand, landed a firm slap on his little bottom with the other.

"You said anything goes—why did you hit me? That’s not fair!" Ling Tian protested, both ashamed and annoyed. He’d just been spanked!

"I said you could ask, but I never promised I’d agree," Luo Qingqiu replied calmly, sending Ling Tian’s mind into a tailspin.

So this was the greatest lesson he’d learned: her game of bait and switch. So many traps! No wonder she’d spoken that way—she’d meant for him to take the bait. How infuriating! It was nothing less than using his own words about being a child husband as an excuse for personal revenge!

"You can’t do this to me, I—" Ling Tian flailed, but his body was too small to break free.

"The water in this pool aids the formation of the Chaotic Dao Physique. But you lack a cultivation method, so your absorption is weak. I’ll have to help you…" Luo Qingqiu explained. Before her words faded, another smack landed on Ling Tian’s bottom.

"And the best way is to loosen the flesh with a few strikes for better absorption!" Luo Qingqiu’s eyes shone with barely concealed amusement.

This little one had dared to say such things today—truly bold. If she didn’t teach him a lesson now, what would he become as he grew? And after all, her words weren’t wrong; only the purpose of the spanking had shifted. Children grow faster with loosened skin, after all.

Ling Tian’s face was the very picture of despair. What kind person only spanked a child’s bottom to "loosen the flesh"?

He’d fallen for Luo Qingqiu’s scheme completely.

After a while, Luo Qingqiu finally stopped. When they left the bath, chaos energy swirled around her, obscuring her from Ling Tian’s view. All he could see was the smile on her face—she seemed to be in a particularly good mood.

Ling Tian was suspended in the air by her, his small face scrunched like a bitter melon as he rubbed his bottom. This time, he’d really suffered a loss! Yet, to be fair, he truly felt his Chaotic Dao Embryo reacting—could it be she hadn’t lied?

Ling Tian marked this with a heavy question mark in his heart.

Luo Qingqiu brought Ling Tian to the bedroom, took out the storage ring Ye Qingwu had given her, and fed him.

Catching sight of the contents, she couldn’t help but twitch her lips. Such extravagance!

Once Ling Tian was fed, Luo Qingqiu grew serious. "The Scripture of the Chaotic Heavenly Emperor is the method I’ve always cultivated. Get familiar with it—this will make it easier for me to guide you in the future."

As she finished, a blade of brilliant light entered Ling Tian’s brow, and a new cultivation method appeared in his mind. It must be the Scripture of the Chaotic Heavenly Emperor she’d mentioned—an imperial method.

"Sister, my mother told me that an imperial method is the very essence of a Great Emperor’s Dao—their most precious possession…" Ling Tian opened his eyes, puzzled, and looked at Luo Qingqiu, his question innocent in his young body.

He truly hadn’t expected Luo Qingqiu would entrust him with her imperial method, and in such complete form.

"You’re wondering why I’d give it to you so easily? Well… never mind, you’re still young, you wouldn’t understand." Luo Qingqiu caught his thought, started to explain, then only chuckled and shook her head.

Ling Tian agreed inwardly. Even with a century of memories, before Luo Qingqiu, he was still just a child.

After helping Ling Tian get acquainted with the scripture, Luo Qingqiu brought him to bed. At first, Ling Tian was excited, but soon grew bored. He was too young—no matter his intentions, he simply lacked the strength. Besides, their relationship still felt a little distant; Luo Qingqiu still saw him as a child.

Ling Tian sighed inwardly. How difficult everything was!

…

The next morning, Ling Tian woke with a wince, clutching his aching brow. As he opened his eyes, he saw Luo Qingqiu looking at him with a mix of warmth and annoyance, while the bedding beside him was damp.

Luo Qingqiu, particular about cleanliness, was sorely tempted to kick him out. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it, so she flicked Ling Tian hard on the forehead instead.

"Does it hurt?" Luo Qingqiu asked with a sigh, unable to stay angry.

"You hit my body, but the pain goes straight to your heart," Ling Tian quipped. How could he resist teasing her, living up to his reputation?

Any guilt Luo Qingqiu had vanished instantly, replaced by anger—her brow furrowed, veins standing out. How did these words come from such a little mind?

Ling Tian turned his head to a precise seventy-five degrees, puffed out his cheeks, and said in a child’s voice, "Sigh, at this hour, I’d usually have been fed breakfast already…"

His tone was tinged with sadness.

Luo Qingqiu’s expression darkened—was he insinuating she was late with his meal?

She burst out laughing in exasperation. She hadn’t expected a child to be so entertaining. Were all children like this? Lacking experience with youngsters, Luo Qingqiu simply assumed Ling Tian’s behavior was normal.

Perhaps she should have a child of her own?

If Ling Tian knew her thoughts, he’d likely feel a thousand mythical beasts stampeding in his heart. She’d gone completely off track!

"Enough, I really can’t deal with you," Luo Qingqiu said, taking out Ling Tian’s food and feeding him. It wasn’t such a bad feeling, after all.

Time had little meaning for her. After tens of thousands of years of cultivation, her heart was rarely stirred. But after only two days with Ling Tian, she felt her composure shaken—a fine way to temper the heart, truly fascinating!

[Luo Qingqiu’s affection rating: 20%]

Ling Tian stared in a daze at Luo Qingqiu as she fed him, wondering what was going through her mind.

After the meal, Luo Qingqiu dressed Ling Tian in new clothes, densely inscribed with seals for his safety.

By noon, it was time for the scheduled meeting with Lin Pingfeng.

Outside, rumors were already swirling.

"Did you hear? The Chaotic Great Emperor has a child by her side, meant to compete with the Sword Pavilion’s master in swordsmanship."

"I heard, and that child is rumored to have a mysterious connection with the Great Emperor…"

"Are you suggesting… Careful, don’t offend the Emperor!"

…

"Master, the rumors outside are getting out of hand—they’re saying the child beside the Supreme Elder…"

"Enough! Ninth Elder, is it our place to comment on the Supreme Elder’s actions?" In the main hall of the Sacred Land of Luo Qiu, a tall, imposing middle-aged man scolded the Ninth Elder reporting to him.

"It’s not me, it’s just what I’m hearing…" Ninth Elder protested, looking aggrieved. Why scold him instead of the gossips? He was only relaying the news—what bad luck!

"Then make sure they keep their mouths shut," Luo Changsheng replied, rubbing his forehead. The Supreme Elder’s actions were sometimes too reckless. Even if the child was related to her, wasn’t it too soon to reveal it?

Ninth Elder accepted the order and went to handle the matter.

Luo Changsheng summoned several more elders to support Luo Qingqiu. The affair had caused quite a stir—there would be no peace in the Chaotic Dao Domain.

Meanwhile, the Sword Pavilion was already packed with people.

The Sacred Land of Luo Qiu owed its status in the Chaotic Dao Domain to Luo Qingqiu’s position as Supreme Elder. News of this event had drawn all the major powers to witness it. Many had brought recording stones—anything concerning the Emperor attracted great attention.

The two elders of the Sword Pavilion exchanged glances, full of praise for Lin Pingfeng.

"Pingfeng is truly thoughtful."

"Indeed. If he wins today, our pavilion’s reputation will soar."

They saw no reason to believe Lin Pingfeng would lose to a child—even if that child were the Great Emperor’s son. Even a sword body couldn’t achieve such mastery in so short a time—how laughable!

"I am Lin Pingfeng, master of the Sword Pavilion. Thank you all for coming. Regarding this matter, I would like to say…" Lin Pingfeng cleared his throat, preparing to deliver a rousing speech to bolster his image.

But before he could finish, a wave of imperial pressure forced everyone present to their knees.

"Welcome, Chaotic Great Emperor!"

Feeling the oppressive might, everyone, willing or not, could only shout in unison.

Such is an Emperor—revered by all!

A fevered light shone in Lin Pingfeng’s eyes, as if he could already see his moment of triumph.

Luo Qingqiu frowned slightly and withdrew the pressure, speaking coolly, "Rise. Let us begin."